In this class note, we are going to discuss How to Answer Lexis and Structure Questions in JAMB WAEC & NECO Exams.
We are going to discuss the following with illustrations from WAEC, NECO & JAMB past questions which are under the Lexis and Structure according to the syllabuses:
- Antonyms (Opposite in Meaning)
- Synonyms (Nearest in Meaning)
- Homonyms
- Clause & Sentence Patterns
- Word Classes & Functions
- Mood, Tense, Agreement & Concord
- Punctuation & Spelling
- Figurative & Idiomatic Usage
Antonyms and synonyms questions are common in English language exams. Here are some techniques for answering these types of questions:
Techniques on to Answer Antonyms (Opposite in Meaning) Questions:
1. Understand the meaning of the word: Make sure you know the meaning of the word in question before you try to find its antonym.
2. Look for prefixes and suffixes: Words that have opposite meanings often have different prefixes and suffixes. For example, the prefix “un-” often indicates the opposite of the base word. For example, “happy” has the opposite “unhappy”. The prefix “dis-” can also indicate the opposite of the base word. For example, “honest” has the opposite “dishonest”. The suffix “-less” can indicate the opposite of a word. For example, “hopeful” has the opposite “hopeless”.
3. Use context clues: Look at the sentence or passage where the word appears to see if there are any clues about its opposite.
- choose the option nearly opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined
One hundred and forty kilometres per hour is a reasonable speed limit. (UTME 2020)
- A. acceptable
- B. unbelievable
- C. outrageous
- D. detestable
- Correct Option: Answer is C
- choose the option nearly opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined
The annual festival attracts dignitaries from both home and abroad. (UTME 2020)
- A. spectators
- B. celebrities
- C. chieftains
- D. nonentities
- Correct Option: Answer is D
You can Study more examples on English Language Past Question Here
4. Elimination: If you’re not sure of the answer, you can often eliminate choices that are clearly not antonyms. For example, if the word in question is “good,” and one of the answer choices is “happy,” that answer choice is likely not the correct antonym.
5. Look for words with opposite connotations: Sometimes words that don’t have an obvious opposite in meaning can have opposite connotations. For example, “brave” and “cowardly” are not exact opposites, but they have opposite connotations.
6. Consider the tone: The tone of the sentence or passage can sometimes provide clues about the opposite of a word. For example, if a sentence is negative, the opposite of the word in question might be positive. For example, if the sentence says “The movie was terrible,” the opposite of “terrible” might be “great” or “fantastic”.
Techniques on to Answer Synonyms (Nearest in Meaning) Questions:
1. Understand the meaning of the word: Just like with antonyms, it’s important to know the meaning of the word in question before you look for its synonyms.
2. Look for similar words: Words that have similar meanings often have similar prefixes, suffixes, or roots. Pay attention to these as you read the options. Pay attention to similar prefixes, suffixes, or roots. For example, “happy” might have the synonym “joyful” or “pleased”.
3. Use context clues: Again, look at the sentence or passage to see if there are any clues about other words that have similar meanings. Look at the sentence or passage to see if there are any clues about other words that have similar meanings. For example, if the sentence says “He was ecstatic when he found out,” the synonym for “ecstatic” might be “overjoyed” or “thrilled”. Another example is if the sentence says “The food was delicious,” the synonym for “delicious” might be “tasty” or “flavorful”.
Look at the words that are used in close proximity to the word in question. For example, if the sentence says “He is a skilled pianist,” the synonym for “skilled” might be “talented” or “proficient”.
choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the word(s) underlined.
The office assistant was dismissed for pilfering (UTME 2020)
- A. fighting
- B. incompetence
- C. stealing
- D. mismanagement
- Correct Option: Answer is C
- choose the most appropriate option nearest in meaning to the word(s) underlined.
He was underrated at the preliminary stage of the competition (UTME 2020)
- A. advance
- B. initial
- C. selection
- D. crucial
- Correct Option: Answer is B
You can Study more examples on English Language Past Question Here
4. Use a thesaurus: If you’re still unsure, you can use a thesaurus to look up synonyms for the word in question. Use thesaurus for practice only.
Overall, it’s important to read carefully and take your time with antonyms and synonyms questions. Don’t rush through them and make sure you’re answering the question that’s being asked.
5. Pay attention to the part of speech: Make sure you’re looking for a word that is the same part of speech as the original word. For example, if the original word is a noun, the synonym should also be a noun.
6. Be careful with words that have multiple meanings: Sometimes words have multiple meanings, and the synonym might only match one of those meanings. Make sure you’re considering the correct meaning of the original word when looking for a synonym.
Remember that the best way to improve your skills in answering antonyms and synonyms questions is through practice. Try practicing with sample questions and review the answers to see where you might need to improve. Over time, you will become more comfortable with these types of questions and be better prepared for English language exams.
Techniques on to Answer Homonyms Questions::
Homonyms are words that have the same spelling and pronunciation, but different meanings.
There are two types of homonyms: homographs and homophones.
Homographs are words that have the same spelling, but different meanings and pronunciations. For example, “bow” can mean either “to bend forward at the waist” or “a piece of ribbon or string”. These two meanings have different pronunciations: the verb “bow” is pronounced like “bou” while the noun “bow” is pronounced like “boe”.
Homophones are words that have the same pronunciation, but different spellings and meanings. For example, “ate” and “eight” are homophones, as they are pronounced the same but have different spellings and meanings.
Homophones can be a source of confusion for English language learners and native speakers alike, as the spelling differences can be subtle and the meaning differences can be significant.
Context can be helpful in distinguishing between homophones. For example, if the sentence says “I want to go too”, the context suggests that the correct spelling is “too”, meaning “also”, rather than “to” as in “I want to go to the store”.
It is important to pay attention to spelling and usage when using homophones in writing, as they can have different meanings and connotations.
How to Answer Lexis and Structure Questions in JAMB WAEC & NECO Exams
Clause & Sentence Patterns
- Clause: A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. There are two main types of clauses in English: independent clauses and dependent clauses.
- Independent clause: An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence because it expresses a complete thought, such as “She is going to the store.”
- Dependent clause: A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence because it does not express a complete thought. It depends on an independent clause to complete its meaning, such as “When she finishes her homework, she will go to the store.”
- Sentence Patterns: Sentence patterns refer to the structure of a sentence in terms of the order of the subject, verb, and object. There are four main sentence patterns in English:
- Pattern 1: Subject + Verb Example: “Joe sleeps.”
- Pattern 2: Subject + Verb + Object Example: “Joel eats breakfast.”
- Pattern 3: Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object Example: “Jide gave his mother a gift.”
- Pattern 4: Subject + Linking Verb + Predicate Example: “Jare is happy.”
- Sentence Types: There are four main sentence types in English:
- Declarative: A declarative sentence makes a statement, such as “I am going to the store.”
- Interrogative: An interrogative sentence asks a question, such as “Are you going to the store?”
- Imperative: An imperative sentence gives a command or makes a request, such as “Go to the store.”
- Exclamatory: An exclamatory sentence expresses strong emotion or emphasis, such as “What a beautiful day it is!”
By understanding clauses and sentence patterns, you can better understand the structure of sentences in English and how to construct them effectively. Additionally, knowing the different types of sentence types can help you to communicate more effectively in different situations.
Word Classes & Functions
- Word Class: Word class refers to the categorization of words into different types based on their functions and meanings. There are eight main word classes in English: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Each word class has unique characteristics that help to distinguish it from the others. For example:
- Nouns: words that represent people, places, things, and ideas, such as “dog,” “book,” and “love.”
- Verbs: words that express actions or states of being, such as “run,” “eat,” and “is.”
- Adjectives: words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns, such as “red,” “happy,” and “tall.”
- Adverbs: words that describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, such as “quickly,” “very,” and “often.”
- Pronouns: words that take the place of nouns, such as “he,” “she,” and “it.”
- Prepositions: words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence, such as “in,” “on,” and “at.”
- Conjunctions: words that connect words, phrases, or clauses, such as “and,” “but,” and “because.”
- Interjections: words that express emotions or reactions, such as “oh,” “wow,” and “ouch.”
- Function: Function refers to the role that a word or group of words plays in a sentence. Words can have different functions depending on how they are used in a sentence. Here are some examples of functions:
- Subject: the noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb, such as “John” in the sentence “John ate breakfast.”
- Object: the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb, such as “eggs” in the sentence “John ate eggs for breakfast.”
- Predicate: the part of a sentence that tells something about the subject, such as “is tall” in the sentence “John is tall.”
- Modifier: a word or group of words that describes or provides additional information about another word in the sentence, such as “happy” in the sentence “John is a happy person.”
- Connector: a word or group of words that connects two or more words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence, such as “and” in the sentence “John ate eggs and toast for breakfast.”
Understanding word class and function can help you to better understand the structure and meaning of sentences in English. By analyzing the role of different words and phrases, you can improve your ability to communicate effectively in both spoken and written English.
Mood, Tense, Agreement & Concord
- Mood: Mood refers to the way a verb expresses the speaker’s attitude towards what is being said. There are three main moods in English: indicative (used for statements of fact), imperative (used for commands or requests), and subjunctive (used for expressing doubts, wishes, or possibilities). Examples:
- Indicative: “I am eating breakfast.”
- Imperative: “Eat your breakfast.”
- Subjunctive: “If I were you, I would eat breakfast.”
- Tense: Tense refers to the time at which an action is taking place. There are three main tenses in English: past, present, and future. Each tense can be further divided into simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous forms. Examples:
- Past simple: “I ate breakfast.”
- Present continuous: “I am eating breakfast.”
- Future perfect: “I will have eaten breakfast by 10 AM.”
- Agreement: Agreement refers to the way in which words in a sentence “agree” with each other in terms of number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third). For example:
- Singular agreement: “The dog barks.”
- Plural agreement: “The dogs bark.”
- First person agreement: “I am eating breakfast.”
- Third person agreement: “He is eating breakfast.”
- Concord: Concord is similar to agreement, but it specifically refers to the way in which a verb agrees with its subject in terms of number and person. For example:
- Singular concord: “The dog barks.”
- Plural concord: “The dogs bark.”
- First person concord: “I am eating breakfast.”
- Third person concord: “He is eating breakfast.”
Concord, also known as subject-verb agreement, refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence in terms of number and person. Here are some rules to follow for concord:
- The verb must agree with the subject in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. For example: “She walks to school.” (singular subject and verb) “They walk to school.” (plural subject and verb)
- The verb must agree with the subject in person. If the subject is in the first person (I or we), the verb should be in the first person. If the subject is in the second person (you), the verb should be in the second person. If the subject is in the third person (he, she, it, or they), the verb should be in the third person. For example: “I am walking to school.” (first person subject and verb) “You are walking to school.” (second person subject and verb) “He is walking to school.” (third person subject and verb)
- Some nouns that appear to be plural are actually singular and require a singular verb. Examples include: “mathematics,” “news,” and “politics.” For example: “Mathematics is my favorite subject.”
- When a singular subject is connected by “or” or “nor” with another singular subject, the verb should agree with the subject closer to it. For example: “Neither the cat nor the dog is hungry.”
- When a singular subject is connected by “either…or” or “neither…nor” with a plural subject, the verb should agree with the subject closer to it. For example: “Either the cats or the dog is hungry.”
Punctation & Spelling
Here are some techniques on how to answer Punctuation and Spelling questions in English Language exams:
- Read the instructions carefully: It is important to carefully read the instructions given for the punctuation and spelling questions. These instructions can give you important clues as to what the examiner expects from your answers.
- Practice punctuation rules: You should have a good understanding of the basic punctuation rules such as the use of commas, periods, semi-colons, colons, quotation marks, and apostrophes. Practicing these rules will help you to apply them correctly in your answers.
- Use context clues: Sometimes, the correct spelling or punctuation can be determined by using context clues from the sentence or passage. This means that you can look at the words and phrases surrounding the word or phrase in question to determine the correct spelling or punctuation.
- Check for homophones: Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Examples include “their,” “there,” and “they’re.” Make sure you are using the correct homophone in your answer.
How to Answer Lexis and Structure Questions in JAMB WAEC & NECO Exams
Spelling Rules in English Language
Learning the spelling rules is an important aspect of improving your spelling skills in the English language. English spelling can be complicated because there are many words with silent letters, irregular spellings, and words that are spelled differently from how they sound. Here are some of the most important spelling rules to learn:
- C and G rule: The letters “c” and “g” have different sounds depending on the letter that follows them. If the letter that follows is “e,” “i,” or “y,” “c” and “g” have a soft sound, as in “cent” and “gym.” If the letter that follows is “a,” “o,” or “u,” “c” and “g” have a hard sound, as in “cat” and “gum.”
- I before E rule: The rule “i before e, except after c” is a common spelling rule in English. It means that when “i” and “e” appear together in a word, “i” comes before “e,” unless the letters are preceded by “c.” For example, “believe” and “relieve” follow the rule, while “receive” and “ceiling” do not.
- Silent letters rule: In English, many words have silent letters. Some common examples include “k” in “know,” “b” in “debt,” and “p” in “psychology.” Learning these rules can help you to spell these words correctly.
- Doubling rule: When a word ends in a consonant followed by a vowel, and the stress is on the final syllable, we double the final consonant before adding “-ed” or “-ing.” For example, “stop” becomes “stopped” and “stopping.”
- Pluralization rule: In English, most words become plural by adding “-s” or “-es” to the end. However, some words have irregular plurals, such as “child” becoming “children” and “foot” becoming “feet.”
- “Y” rule: When adding suffixes to words that end in “y,” the “y” is often changed to “i” if the suffix does not begin with a vowel. For example: “happy” becomes “happier,” “beauty” becomes “beautiful,” and “fry” becomes “frying.”
- “C” and “K” rule: The letters “c” and “k” have similar sounds and are often interchangeable, but there are some rules. For example: “cat” and “cut” both start with “c,” but “cat” has a soft sound and “cut” has a hard sound. “K” is used after a single vowel or at the end of a word, while “c” is used before a, o, and u. For example: “cake,” “lock,” and “truck.”
- choose the option with the correct spelling from the options lettered A-E (UTME 2020)
- A. Interprete
- B. Interpret
- C. Inteprete
- D. Interprette
- E. Interrpret
- Correct Option: Answer is B
- choose the option with the correct spelling from the options lettered A-E (UTME 2020)
- A. Sucesful
- B. Succeful
- C. Successful
- D. Sucessful
- E. Successful
- Correct Option: Answer is C
You can Study more examples on English Language Past Question Here
Punctuation Rules in English Language
Punctuation is an important aspect of writing in English. It helps to convey meaning, clarify ideas, and make writing more readable. Here are some tips for practicing punctuation rules:
- Understand the purpose of each punctuation mark: Different punctuation marks have different functions. For example, a period is used to end a sentence, a comma is used to separate items in a list or clauses in a sentence, and a semicolon is used to separate two related independent clauses. Understanding the purpose of each punctuation mark will help you to use them correctly.
- Study examples: Look for examples of good writing and pay attention to how punctuation is used. Analyze how the writer uses punctuation to convey meaning, create emphasis, and clarify ideas.
- Practice with exercises: There are many online resources that provide exercises for practicing punctuation. These exercises can help you to identify errors and correct them. You can also create your own exercises by writing sentences with intentional punctuation errors and then correcting them.
- Get feedback: Share your writing with a teacher, tutor, or friend and ask for feedback on your punctuation usage. They can point out any errors you may have missed and suggest ways to improve your punctuation.
- Proofread: After you have written a piece of text, take the time to proofread it carefully for punctuation errors. Reading your work out loud can help you to identify errors that you might miss when reading silently.
here are some more examples of how punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence:
- A woman, without her man, is nothing. A woman: without her, man is nothing.
In the first sentence, the implication is that a woman is nothing without a man. In the second sentence, the implication is that man is nothing without a woman.
- Let’s eat Grandma! Let’s eat, Grandma!
In the first sentence, the speaker is suggesting that they should eat their grandmother. In the second sentence, the speaker is suggesting that they should eat a meal with their grandmother.
- He said I’m sorry. He said, “I’m sorry.”
In the first sentence, it’s unclear whether “I’m sorry” is what he said or whether the speaker is apologizing for something. In the second sentence, the quotation marks make it clear that “I’m sorry” is what he said.
- The teacher said the test is on Monday, and I need to study. The teacher said, “The test is on Monday,” and I need to study. In the first sentence, it’s unclear whether the teacher said “I need to study” or whether the speaker is making that statement. In the second sentence, the quotation marks make it clear that “The test is on Monday” is what the teacher said.
Figurative & Idiomatic Usage
- Figurative Language: Figurative language refers to the use of words and phrases in a non-literal way, to create images or meanings that go beyond the literal definition of the words. There are several types of figurative language, including:
- Metaphor: A metaphor is a comparison between two things that are not alike, to illustrate a point or create an image, such as “Her eyes were stars.”
- Simile: A simile is a comparison between two things using “like” or “as,” such as “She was as graceful as a swan.”
- Personification: Personification is the attribution of human qualities to non-human things, such as “The wind whispered through the trees.”
- Idiomatic Usage: Idiomatic usage refers to the use of words and phrases in a way that is unique to a particular language or culture. Idioms are expressions that have a figurative meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words. For example:
- “It’s raining cats and dogs” means it is raining heavily.
- “Break a leg” means good luck.
- “Kick the bucket” means to die.
Idiomatic usage can be challenging for non-native speakers because the meaning of the words cannot be understood by their literal definition. Instead, idiomatic expressions must be learned and memorized as a whole.
Understanding figurative and idiomatic usage in English can help you to better understand and appreciate the language, as well as communicate more effectively with native speakers. By learning and using these expressions appropriately, you can enhance your language skills and become a more fluent and confident speaker.
Here is a list of some common idiomatic expressions with their meanings that may be useful for English language exams:
- “A piece of cake”: Something that is very easy or simple to do.
- “Break a leg”: A phrase used to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance or presentation.
- “Bite the bullet”: To face a difficult situation or unpleasant task with courage.
- “Cutting corners”: Taking shortcuts or doing something quickly and without care.
- “Hit the nail on the head”: To be exactly right or accurate about something.
- “Let the cat out of the bag”: To reveal a secret or private information.
- “Kick the bucket”: A euphemism for dying or passing away.
- “Kill two birds with one stone”: To accomplish two things at once.
- “On the ball”: Alert, attentive, and quick to respond.
- “Raining cats and dogs”: To rain heavily.
- “Spill the beans”: To reveal secret information.
- “The ball is in your court”: It’s up to you to take action or make a decision.
- “Throw in the towel”: To give up or quit.
- “Under the weather”: Feeling ill or not well.
- “You can’t judge a book by its cover”: You can’t make assumptions based on outward appearances.
- “A blessing in disguise”: Something that appears to be bad or unfortunate at first, but later turns out to be a good thing.
- “A penny for your thoughts”: A phrase used to ask someone what they are thinking about.
- “Actions speak louder than words”: What someone does is more important than what they say.
- “Barking up the wrong tree”: To pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action.
- “Caught between a rock and a hard place”: Stuck between two difficult choices or situations.
- “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”: Don’t risk everything on one plan or idea.
- “Get a taste of your own medicine”: To experience the same negative treatment that one has given to others.
- “Hitting below the belt”: To say something that is unfair or unkind.
- “In the blink of an eye”: Very quickly or in a very short amount of time.
- “Jump on the bandwagon”: To join a popular trend or movement.
- “Put your foot in your mouth”: To say something embarrassing or inappropriate.
- “The devil is in the details”: The small details of something can be difficult or problematic.
- “Through thick and thin”: Through good times and bad times.
- “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”: To adapt to the customs and behavior of a particular place or group.
- “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”: A phrase used to express a mutual exchange of favors or assistance.
It’s important to note that idiomatic expressions can vary depending on the region, culture, and context. Therefore, it’s important to study and familiarize yourself with a variety of expressions to best prepare for English language exams.
